Chapter 12: The Last Crusade
On a beautiful day in Ponyville, the sun was up and there wasn't a rain cloud in the sky. In town, a Unicorn colt named Skeedaddle with a grayish coat, a blue and yellow mane, and blue eyes hurries down a trail beaming.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Skeedaddle yelled out as he rushed through the town. "Cutie Mark Crusaders! Cutie Mark Crusaders! Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
"We're at my house!" Scootaloo called out as Skeedaddle skids to a stop and saw the orange pegasus filly at her house.
He hurries over to it, and opens the door with an excited smile.
"I got my cutie mark!" Skeedaddle shouted happily.
"You did?" Sweetie Belle said, astonished.
"That's great, Skeedaddle!" The three said in unison.
"Yeah! What's it for?" Scootaloo asked and Skeedaddle shows his cutie mark of a knot-tied rope.
"Knot-tying!" Skeedaddle said. "And I never would've gotten it without all of you!"
"Did we suggest knot-tying?" Apple Bloom asked as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle frowned while they began to think.
"First, I tried sailing, like you said." Skeedaddle said to Sweetie Belle. "Next, I tried fishing, like you said." He turned to Scootaloo and then to Apple Bloom. "Then, I tried rowing, like you said. But my oar broke. So I used my fishing line to tie it back together, AND I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!" He then squeals happily. "I can't wait to tell everypony!"
Soon Skeedaddle zipped off excitedly while Scootaloo closed the door as she, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom cheered.
"Oh, how exciting." Aunt Holiday said. "You three truly have a gift for helping ponies."
Aunt Holiday is a middle aged Earth Pony mare with a light yellow coat, reddish color mane and red orange eyes and a light blue scarf, and a cutie mark of a sailboat.
"Aw, thanks, Aunt Holiday." Scootaloo said. "But I'm not sure we can take credit for this one."
"Of course you can." Aunt Holiday said. "You encouraged that colt to try new things. And because you all believed in him, he succeeded."
"I could use that kind of help. Huh." Aunt Lofty said, looking through some drawings.
Aunt Lofty is a mid-aged Pegasus with light yellow coat, blue eyes, blue and sky blue mixed mane, light purple sweater, and a cutie mark of a needle and thread.
Scootaloo laughed.
"Come on, Auntie Lofty." Scootaloo said. "You already have your cutie mark."
"Lot of good it does me." Lofty said. "I can't decide what theme to give this quilt. Ah, I've run out of inspiration.
"How about apples?" Apple Bloom suggested. "Puppies? Kites!"
"Or cotton candy!" Sweetie Belle suggested. "Or ballet!"
"What about a Wonderbolt quilt?" Scootaloo suggested. "Or even a blacksmith? Chase has a lot of experience with that with his family."
"See?" Lofty laughed. "Leave it to you three to come up with more ideas than I've had in a year! Now, that's talent."
That's when a cuckoo clock went out as they turn to it.
"Goodness." Holiday gasped looking at the time. "We'd better get going, or we'll miss the train home." She got up and turns to Scootaloo. "I left you plenty of food for the weekend."
"And I left you cookies." Lofty added as she chuckled and the Crusaders gasped excitedly.
"The Cakes will stay with you tonight." Holiday informed. "Then Rarity and Rainbow Dash after that. Remember, we're just a few stops from Ponyville if you need us."
"She knows, Holiday." Lofty assured. "See you next week, slugger."
They begin to head out.
"Bye, Aunt Holiday!" Scootaloo waved bye. "Bye, Auntie Lofty!"
Scootaloo closed the door as she joins her friends.
"Your aunts are so nice." Sweetie Belle said with a smile.
"Yeah." Apple Bloom said, agreeing with Sweetie Belle. "It's really cool they watch you while your parents are gone."
"I know." Scootaloo said. "I just wish they live closer. Nopony bakes like Auntie Lofty."
Suddenly there was a knock on her door. Derpy leaves with a letter on the front of the door as Scootaloo opens it and picks the letter up before she looks through a postcard. Then Scootaloo gasped excitedly.
"They're coming home today!" Scootaloo said excitedly and happily.
"Who?" Sweetie Belle asked with a curious look on her face.
"MY PARENTS!" Scootaloo beamed happily.
*Main theme*
Later, the three of them were at school as Cheerilee was teaching.
"Today, we're gonna learn about the Pegasus Weather Factory." Cheerilee said when she saw Scootaloo by the door looking outside and looked unamused yet annoyed. "Once everypony is in their seats."
Scootaloo rushed over to her desk and Cheerilee got to her lesson.
"The factory specializes in snow, rain, sunshine, and..." Cheerilee said as flips her backboard showing the diagram of Cloudsdale when snoticed Scootaloo looking out the window. Cheerilee became more impatient as she clears her throat. "Scootaloo? May I help you?"
Scootaloo was still looking out through the window hoping to see even a glimpse of her parents.
"I... just noticed your erasers needed dusting." Scootaloo said as she laughed nervously.
Then she beats two erasers clearing them as dust flew around as Cheerilee and the other students coughed.
"Why don't we hold off on the lesson until after lunch?" Cheerilee suggested with a forced smile. "How about show and tell? Does anypony have any-?"
"MY PARENTS ARE COMING HOME TO PONYVILLE TODAY!" Scootaloo excitedly beamed, shocking the entire classroom.
"Wait. They don't live here?" Snips asked.
"Nope." Scootaloo stated as she goes to a glob and spins it a bit before she stops it to show a red flag on it. She grabs a magnifying glass and looks at a peace of green leaves. "Their jobs are way too important for that. They travel to the farthest, most dangerous places in Equestria to study unknown plants and fierce creatures. And what they learn helps pony science and medicine. I'd go with them, but it's too dangerous. Once, my mom wing-wrestled a wyvern, and my dad got trapped in a chimera's cave for 3 moons! He still has the scars to prove it."
She drew a line of chalk on her face.
"You're making that up." Snips scoffed. "Nopony has that kind of job."
Suddenly, there was a loud thud and then the door flung open as a young cragadile enters the classroom and growls.
The students screamed as the cragadile chomps down on some of the desks. The students quickly got on the counter of the classroom away from it and then they turned to Scootaloo and Cheerilee as she quickly grabs Scootaloo before she gets on top of her desk.
"It's a cragadile!" Cheerilee cried with worry as the cragadile charged towards them.
Then suddenly a pony lunges onto the cragadile and begins to wrestle it.
"Easy there, Marshmallow!" Said the stallion with a tan brown coat, dark purple mane, dark purple eyes, adventurer hat with crocodile teeth, rope and shirt, and cutie mark of a map and camera holds down the cragadile. "Time you were in your crate for your nap!"
He ties the rope around the beast's jaws and it struggled to fight free.
Then a Pegasus mare with a light tangelo coat, pale with light grayish gold and goldish white mane and tail, and purple eyes, cutie mark of a compass and green shirt.
"And that means now, mister!" She said firmly.
The cragadile gave out a whimper as it went back into his crate. The stallion closed the door and the two high-five each other.
Scootaloo soon turns to them as she happily gasped and rushed to them.
"Mom! Dad!" Scootaloo happily squealed and hugged them.
"Still think she's makin' it all up?" Apple Bloom asked with a smirk as she turned to Snips.
"Nuh-uh." Snips replied back and shook his head as the other students jumped off the counter.
They all got back to their desks.
"Everypony, meet my parents - Snap Shutter and Mane Allgood!" Scootaloo introduced her parents.
"Heh. Sorry to make such an entrance." Snap Shutter apologized. "Just brought back a few mates from our last adventure."
"We couldn't wait another moment to see Scootaloo!" Mane Allgood said as she turns to Cheerilee. "I hope we didn't interrupt anything."
Cheerilee was still on top of her desk as her hooves were shaking still from the fright.
"No, I, uh... think... class is dismissed." Cheerilee said with a nervous smile.
(Scene changes)
The students soon left the school as Scootaloo was with her parents.
"Crikey! You're nearly as tall as me now, Scoot!" Snap said as Scootaloo was a little taller from the last time they saw her.
"Aw, come on, Dad." Scootaloo said playfully as she smiled.
"Oh, Scootaloo. We missed you." Mane said happily.
"Me, too, Mom." Scootaloo said and hugs her. "Did you get all my letters?"
"And read them twenty times!" Mane said as she hugged her daughter lovingly, making Scootaloo return the favor. "But they're never as good as the real thing. It's so good to see you."
"I say we celebrate with ice cream sundaes." Snap suggested. "They don't have those in the jungle, that's for sure."
"Why don't you all come?" Mane offered Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. "Our treat."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle join Scootaloo as they smiled.
(Scene changes)
Later that day, they were all at a cafe as Scootaloo explained what happened the last time she saw them.
"And Princess Twilight and Master Chase said we're such good friendship tutors, they might even let us teach a class!" Scootaloo said.
"Good on ya, Scoot!" Snap said happily and proudly.
"What an honor!" Mane said as Snap ate a cupcake.
"I can give you a tour of the school if you want." Scootaloo offered. "I mean, if you're staying for a while this time."
"Oh, you'll be seeing plenty of us." Snap said.
"Really?" Scootaloo beamed.
"Mm-hmm." Mane said as she nodded. "Because we've taken a new job assignment that will let us live together!"
"I can't believe it!" Scootaloo cheered happily. "That's awesome!"
"All right, Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom beamed excitedly for her friend.
"Woo-hoo!" Sweetie Belle excitedly cheered.
"We never planned to be away for so long in the first place." Snap said. "We just kept discovering things that could help Equestria. And nopony else had the experience to finish our job."
"But with all that's happened lately - the Quinkan on the loose, Sombra's return, the destruction of the Tree of Harmony - we decided our family should be together." Mane said while adding the recent events.
"This is the best day of my life." Scootaloo said happily.
"We'll stay in town for the weekend so you can pack your things." Snap said, which shocked Scootaloo and left her confused as well as afraid.
"Wait, what?!" Scootaloo exclaimed in shock.
"We're all moving to Shire Lanka!" Mane announced. "That's where our new job is."
"But... my friends are in Ponyville." Scootaloo said.
"You can come back and visit 'em." Snap assured. "Or they can take the train to us. There's one every month."
"But Scootaloo can't leave!" Apple Bloom said, hugging Scootaloo.
"We've been together our whole lives!" Sweetie Belle added, hugging them.
"It'll be a big change for everypony." Mane said. "But it'll be a good change. Give it time. You'll see."
"The only thing I see... is the end of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Scootallo said, tearing up and sniffed.
(Scene changes)
Sometime later, they were gathered at their clubhouse fearing this was their very last gathering and Apple Bloom bangs a gavel.
"I now call our last ever Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting to order." Apple Bloom cracked as she sniffled. "First item of business..." She then cries. "CRY!"
They all started crying.
"You can't let the blank flanks down just 'cause I'm gone." Scootaloo cried. "You gotta keep being CMC's without me."
"How?!" Sweetie Belle replied back as she sniffed. "There's only two of us!"
"Maybe you can a find replacement for me." Scootaloo said as she sobbed.
"NO, WE CAN'T!" Sweetie Belle screamed. "You're the only... you!"
"Nothin's gonna be the same!" Apple Bloom added and sobbed uncontrollably. "Who's gonna ride their scooter ahead of us everywhere we go?"
"Or... Or put on plays with us?" Sweetie Belle sobbed. "Or go camping with us? Or just hang out with us?!"
"Well, it's worse for me!" Scootaloo shouted as she sobbed. "I have to say goodbye to both of-!"
She clings to them and then the door opens as they saw Rainbow.
"Guess who just got three front-row tickets to the Wonderbolts show next week!" Rainbow said as she held out three Wonderbolt tickets.
Then the three started whining, and then started bawling like mad, confusing Rainbow Dash in the process.
"Uh, that is not the reaction I was expecting." Rainbow said curiously.
"Thanks for the tickets, Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo said as she sniffled. "But I can't go."
"Her parents are makin' her move super far away from Ponyville." Apple Bloom said as Rainbow was surprised by this.
"What?!" Rainbow exclaimed in shock. "No way! Scootaloo belongs here!"
"And now we'll probably never see her again!" Sweetie Belle sobbed. "It's hopeless!"
The three fillies started crying.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Rainbow said as she waved her front hoof at them, getting their attention. "I cannot believe you're giving up so easily. You're the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Solving tough problems is what you do."
"We are pretty good at coming up with ideas." Scootaloo said with a smile as she wipes her tears away.
"That's right." Sweetie Belle said, agreeing with Scootaloo with a smile of her own. "When we work together, we're unstoppable!"
"I can't believe we didn't think of it before." Apple Bloom said. "It's list time, y'all! Firstquestion - why do Scootaloo's parents want to move to Shire Lanka?"
"That's where their new job is." Scootaloo said.
"What if we get them a job here instead?" Sweetie Belle gasped.
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom said as she shows a section of Timberwolves in a book. "They like dangerous creatures, right? We got to have some of those around here. Like, uh, Timberwolves!"
"Dad knows all about those." Scootaloo said. "And cockatrices and bugbears. They only study super rare animals."
"Then maybe we need to give them an animal nopony's ever heard of!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Uh, then how would we hear about it?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Because we're making it up!" Sweetie Belle said. "Come on! Maybe we can get Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio to help us out!"
The three rushed outside of their clubhouse, leaving only Rainbow inside.
"Sooooo... you want these tickets, or...?" Rainbow asked, confused while still holding the three Wonderbolt tickets.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long until they arrived at the Castle of Friendship as Sunray was busy punching his punching bag while Chase was meditating with a few candles lit, Antonio was reading a power ponies comic book while Jade and Trini were perfecting their element powers.
It wasn't long until Twilight came in with the Cutie Mark Crusaders following her from behind.
"Honey, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are here to see you and the others." Twilight said to Chase as her husband turns to her and the three fillies.
"Hey, guys. What are you doing here?" Chase said as got up and walks over to them.
"Chase, we need your help with something really important." Scootaloo said with a concerned look on her face with the rest of her friends.
"What's wrong?" Jade asked as she and the rest joined the four.
"Scootaloo's parents just came and they want to take her with them because their job is so important in Shire Lanka." Apple Bloom explained to the five, who looked surprised by this.
"What? But Scootaloo's home is in Ponyville. They can't just do that." Trini said with a concerned look on her face.
"That's exactly what Rainbow Dash said too, but we need you to help us since you know the best way to keep Equestria safe from harm." Sweetie Belle said with a hopeful look on her face.
"Girls, I know this is hard for Scootaloo to go, but you can't just force her parents to see what you do in a dangerous situation." Twilight said with sympathy yet concern.
"But you and Chase have Nyx for your daughter, Twilight." Scootaloo protested. "When was the last time you let her go on a dangerous mission?"
"Nyx is not some scared little filly a thousand years ago, Scootaloo. She wants to start her independence again. I can relate to that." Twilight replied back with a smile.
"And you had the same feeling when you were a filly, Twilight." Jade said with a teasing smile she sent to Twilight as her sister-in-law smiled sheepishly with a blush.
"To get back on track." Chase said, getting back to the subject. "I'm not sure that you three can handle this, even if Scootaloo's folks still need her to come with them."
"But we need you more than ever, Chase." Scootaloo said desperately, her eyes filled with tears as her friends had the same tearful look. "I need you to help me! I can't do it without you. You're my only hope to make sure I don't move away."
Chase just looked at Scootaloo with concern as he noticed her tears streaming down her face just like Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.
Not wanting the three fillies cry, Chase sighed as he closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. He opens his eyes and smiled at Scootaloo.
"Okay, let's try it." Chase said with a smile, making Scootaloo hug him tightly followed by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.
"Thanks, Chase." Scootaloo said gratefully while burying her face in Chase's chest fur.
"Anytime, Scootaloo. Anytime." Chase said as he hugged Scootaloo in return as Twilight, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio, smiled at the sight.
(Scene changes)
Later, Scootaloo leads her parents to the Everfree Forest. Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio followed behind the three.
"This is what I wanted to show you." Scootaloo said. "The tracks of the mysterious Everfree banshee beast!"
In front of them were a trail of footprints.
"Hmmm... They're like nothing I've ever seen." Mane said with an interested look on her face.
"Legend says it has five claws and three wings." Scootaloo said. "And it's suuuuper dangerous if you get too close. If only somepony could prove it exists."
"Hmmm... Easy enough." Snap said. "We'll follow the spoor."
"But be careful. You don't want to get to close to its teeth either. With one mighty clamp of its jaws, it will eat anything in a single bite." Jade said with caution.
"Good safety tip, Jade." Mane said, agreeing to that as Jade walked off somewhere else.
Snap and Mane started following the tracks when Scootaloo quickly got in front of them.
"I think I heard something this way." Scootaloo said as she gestured to some bushes.
And they looked over and among the shadows of the trees, a silhouette of a long necked creature appeared and moves off.
They saw it and Snap was able to get a picture of it as Mane brought out a notepad and they started to head towards it. Some distance away, the creature was actually a costume that Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were in. The head of the costume was a cat head as Sweetie Belle tries to keep it up with her magic.
"So the plan is we let 'em get a picture, then we hide again." Apple Bloom said to Sweetie Belle. "Right?"
Sweetie Belle struggles to keep the head up and then a twig snapping was heard Nearby. Snap and Mane came out from the bushes and Snap got a picture of it as they started coming towards it.
"Now the plan is... run!" Sweetie Belle said.
The two started running, but Apple Bloom started running faster and then were blindly running towards a tree as the costume got caught on it. Then it rips as they were thrown a bit as Apple Bloom landed into a bush. Soon Snap and Mane appeared, much to their disappointment. And they turned to their daughter.
"Guess you solved the mystery." Scootaloo laughed nervously when a loud splash was heard.
Snap and Mane forgot about their disappoint and began to go see what was making the splashing with interest as Scootaloo followed behind them. They arrived at a lake where they saw Jade giving her element dragon a good washing down.
"Wait, Scootaloo. Is that a dragon?" Snap asked Scootaloo.
"That's Jade's dragon, but she's not the only one." Scootaloo said as Jade turns to them with a smile. In addition, Chase, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio also had their dragons out as well. Antonio's dragon was taking a nap on a pile of boulders, Trini's was flying in the air for some exercise, Sunray's was nibbling on some gems, and Chase's was sitting upright while meditating. "She and her family got their dragons during the Manehatten big brawl with Zhao."
"Our mother and father used to tell us stories about the dragons, that they were mystical creatures that belong to both worlds and ferried between them." Jade added as she gave her dragon a loving pat on the jaw, making the great creature growl contently.
"Yeah, and once they felt the goodness in our hearts of defending the Zeo Crystal from the Quinkan, they actually became quite softies." Sunray added with a smirk as his dragon playfully nudged him, making the unicorn stallion smirk in reply. "Knock it off."
Jade giggled along with Trini as Snap and Mane approached Chase's dragon in awe.
"Amazing. I've never seen an element dragon up close before." Snap said in amazement as he took a picture of Chase's dragon.
"Very incredible." Mane said with an amazed smile while taking out her notepad and took some notes and a picture of Chase's dragon.
"These dragons also have energy from the original five Dragon Guardians long ago and the Ninja Tribunal made their temple to keep the Zeo Crystal safe from harm." Chase said as Mane finished her notepad.
"Amazing, Master-" Mane said, only to get cut off by Chase.
"Oh no, no. Just Chase is fine, most of the other ponies call me 'Master Chase' and the ponies address my wife 'Princess Twilight'." Chase said with a smile.
"Oh, of course, Chase." Mane said with a smile. "You're dragon sure has some unique features. It has been shedding its scales just like the rest of your families' dragons."
"They are in good health by the looks of it. And the teeth are pure white than the usual of the ones in the Dragon Lands." Snap added as he hovered up in front of Chase's dragon's mouth while examining its teeth.
"We do take good care of our pets and these babies have tones of surprises of their own sometimes when we need them in battle." Trini said as Antonio nodded in agreement.
"You mates have quite a remarkable protector of life. It sure makes me wish we had one of our own." Snap said as he joins Chase and Mane.
"So does this mean I can still stay in Ponyville with Chase and his family helping me out?" Scootaloo asked with a hopeful smile.
"Sorry, honey. But it's still a no." Mane said with a sympathetic smile. "We'd better get back. There's a lot to get ready before the house goes up for sale tomorrow."
She and Snap head off as Scootaloo sadly whined.
(Scene changes)
The next day, Scootaloo marks down another day as she was only a day away from moving. Jade and Trini were giving Scootaloo much needed comfort while Chase paces around a bit.
"Okay, so far we haven't been able to get Snap and Mane to see how we protect you guys, how else are we gonna make them let Scootaloo stay."
"Relax, Sunray. We've still got some more tricks up our sleeves." Apple Bloom said to Sunray assuringly.
"Don't worry, Scootaloo." Sweetie Belle said. "We have a new plan to keep you in Ponyville."
"We just got to show your parents we're a set of three." Apple Bloom said. "Then they'll have to let you stay here with us."
"Well, you better make it work. Because if it doesn't, then it's bye-bye Scootaloo forever." Chase said as Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio nodded in agreement
Then Apple Bloom took a picture with the camera she has.
(Scene changes)
In a red room, Snap was packing up and then he noticed 3 photos in a container of water. Then he hangs them each and soon the photo revealed of showing the Crusader's cutie marks.
(Scene changes)
In Scoot's room, Scootaloo finishes packing a box just Snap entered.
"Scoot, are these yours?" Snap asked and set the photos on the box.
"Yeah." Scootaloo said. "Thanks, Dad. We're sending them to the Pony Book of Records."
"We're the only three ponies in Equestria with the same cutie mark." Sweetie Belle said.
"The chances of that are so rare." Apple Bloom said. "It means we belong together forever."
"Yeah, but you don't have the same cutie mark." Snap informed.
"Sure we do." Apple Bloom said as she made a short laugh. "Look!"
"Well, this part is the same." Snap said gesturing to the badge of of the cutie mark. "But the picture inside each is different." He was right, Scootaloo's has a wing in the middle, Apple Bloom had an apple, and Sweetie Belle had a star with a song note in the middle. "I think it means you'll stay best friends no matter where you go, and that's really
Snap walks off.
"But... we... "Scootaloo sadly said and sighed. "How do you argue with that?"
(Scene changes)
Later, they were all back at the clubhouse with Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini and Antonio. Scootaloo sadly sighed as Jade pulled her in for a hug.
"Don't worry, Scootaloo. We'll still figure out a way to get your parents to understand how your life here is so important to you and your friends." Jade said with a soft smile.
"I doubt that, Jade. right now, I feel like I'm hopeless now that I'll be away forever." Scootaloo said with a sad look.
"We'll figure out a way soon enough, kiddo." Chase said with a smile. "Because we'll still be by your side no matter what."
"Maybe." Scootaloo replied back somberly when the door opens as Apple Bloom came in.
"All right, y'all." Apple Bloom said. "Time to take things up a notch."
She brought out a vial with a purple substance from her bag.
"With prune juice?" Scootaloo frowned.
"It's a potion I mixed up from Zecora's book." Apple Bloom explained. "Prune is only one of it's ingredients."
"What's it do?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"On this potion, please depend." Jade said as she read a book. "Any separation, mend. Friends together "til the end." You just got to put a little on your hooves."
"Sounds perfect, right?" Apple Bloom asked Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
"Better than perfect!" Scootaloo beamed.
"Well, becareful though. We don't know what that potion will do to you guys." Chase said with concern
"Don't worry, Chase. We've got this." Apple Bloom said as Sweetie Belle opens the vial, and the three fillies each place a drop on their hooves.
They waited for a few moments.
"Is something supposed to happen?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Then their hooves started shaking, and then near each other as the Elite Ninja backed away cautiously. Suddenly a magical rope appeared and ties the three of them together as Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio used their element powers to block the incoming ropes. Then Sunray uses his fire element to burn the ropes that tried to attack him and his family into ash.
"Is this something that's supposed to happen?!" Sweetie Belle asked with a scared look.
"The book didn't really say." Apple Bloom admitted.
"It looks like this is probably one of the joke books she made to fool you guys." Jade said as she looks at the book carefully and made a deadpan look when she noticed something. "And I was right."
Jade shows the whole group that it was a fake one and the three fillies groaned.
"Looks like she just made this one so that you wouldn't want to get into any trouble, Apple Bloom." Chase said as the Cutie Mark Crusaders try to move, but they struggled and soon tripped and fell.
"Thanks for trying, Apple Bloom." Scootaloo said losing hope. "But I might as well face it. I'm gonna have to leave Ponyville."
"Don't give up, Scootaloo." Apple Bloom said encouragingly. "This just gave me an even better idea how to keep you here. Come on!"
"Wait, guys! Don't move!" Chase shouted, but it was too late.
The three fillies got up and tried to move again, but fell near the entrance.
"Maybe we'd better see Zecora about fixing this first." Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Yeah, so that this won't happen again." Antonio said with a disgusted look on his face as some of the gooeyness was on his left hoof and he shook it off. "Never try this one at home again."
The others nodded to him in agreement before they went off to find Zecora.
(Scene changes)
The next day after Zecora frees them, Scootaloo marks the final day before moving.
"We're running out of time." Scootaloo said.
Apple Bloom then chains herself to the post of the for sale sign as well as the others.
"This has to work!" Scootaloo said and then Mane came out with some boxes as she loads them onto the wagon before she notices her daughter.
"Scootaloo, I know you're having fun with your friends, but we need to get all our things to the station." Mane said as Snap joined her.
"We can't miss tomorrow's train." Snap said. "It's the only one this month."
"Then you just have to go without me!" Scootaloo said firmly. "I'm staying with the CMCs!"
"We're chained to this post!" Sweetie Belle said angrily.
"And nothin' and nopony is gonna move us!" Apple Bloom added sternly. "No matter... what."
The post was lifted up by a unicorn as Snap and Mane glanced each other.
"We just sold the house, Scoot." Snap stated, shocking the three fillies. "I know this is hard to accept, but just-"
"It's more than that!" Scootaloo snapped. "It's not fair! You're making me pick between my family and my friends!"
"Oh, Scootaloo." Mane said gently. "Moving away won't stop you 3 from caring about each other. Why don't you sleep over with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom tonight? It'll give you a chance to say a real goodbye."
"But I don't want to say goodbye!" Scootaloo said. "You're changing my whole life without even asking how I feel!"
Scootaloo runs off crying as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle run after her as Snap and Mane turn to each other concerned for their daughter.
In the background, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio had been watching the whole thing with concern looks as well for Scootaloo.
"What do we do now, guys? If we don't do something, things could get pretty bad for Scootaloo." Antonio said with concern for the pegasus filly.
"I don't know, but we need to find a way and fast." Chase said with a determined look on his face.
(Scene changes)
Later, Scootaloo sat alone at the station losing all hope.
"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom called out as she and Sweetie Belle ran up to her.
"Where are you going?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"To stay with my aunts." Scootaloo said, tearing up. "You heard my parents. There isn't another train to Shire Lanka for a month. If I'm not on it, they'll have to go without me."
"Then we're comin' with ya!" Apple Bloom said.
"Are you sure?" Scootaloo said as she frowned, surprised by that. "I don't want to get you in trouble."
"Rarity won't be mad." Sweetie Belle said.
"Applejack neither." Apple Bloom added. "I bet she'd do the same thing for her friends."
Scootaloo smiled and hugs them.
"You're the best, you know that?" Scootaloo said.
"We're the best." Apple Bloom said.
"Together!" Sweetie Belle said and they each high-five each other.
That's when the train whistle was heard, and then the Friendship Express appeared.
(Scene changes)
Towards sunset, the Crusaders finally arrive at Holiday's and Lofty's place as Scootaloo knocks on the door. Holiday opens the door and was surprised to see her niece.
"Scootaloo!" Holiday gasped. "What a nice surprise."
Then Lofty appeared.
"And I've got a surprise for you!" Lofty said.
Scootaloo turns to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle as Apple Bloom only shrugged. Then Lofty came back and reveal a quilt of cutie marks.
"You 3 inspired me to finish my quilt." Lofty said. "See? Cutie Mark Crusader-themed!"
"We loved hearing stories about all the ponies you've helped." Holiday said. "So Lofty decided to celebrate the special job you 3 do."
Then Scootaloo sighed sadly, which confused Lofty and Holiday.
"It's... still a work-in-progress." Lofty said.
"It's not your quilt we're sad about, Auntie Lofty." Scootaloo said. "Mom and Dad are back. And they're making me move to Shire Lanka with them!"
This of course surprised Holiday and Lofty a lot by hearing Snap and Mane in town.
"Snap and Mane are back?" Holiday asked as she frowned. "They didn't tell me that."
"Oh. I think the mailpony delivered your letter to my house." Scootaloo said and brought them the postcard. "I love my family, but I love being with my friends, too. I don't want to have to choose."
"Well, then why don't your parents stay in Ponyville?" Lofty asked.
"Their job is too important." Scootaloo said.
"That's it!" Apple Bloom said having an idea.
"Is this another potion idea?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"No." Apple Bloom said. "Scootaloo's parents are the only ponies in Equestria that can do what they do, right?"
"Right..." Scootaloo said.
"Well, so are we!" Apple Bloom said. "Our cuties marks prove it!"
"Yeah... Our job is to help other ponies find their purpose!" Sweetie Belle said.
"And nopony else can do that!" Scootaloo said, getting the picture with a smile and realization. "So if my parents split us up, it'd be just as bad as them quitting their jobs!"
"And if they have a problem with that, then they'll have to answer to us." A familiar voice was heard as they turned to see Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio standing behind the Cutie Mark Crusaders with a smile on their faces with determination.
"Chase!" Scootaloo said as she ran up to the alicorn stallion and hugged him happily, which he returned the favor.
They broke the hug as Chase turned to see Holiday and Lofty.
"Hi, Lofty. Hey, Holiday." Chase greeted the two.
"Why, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio." Holiday said to the Elite Ninja with a smile. "What a pleasant surprise to see you five here."
"We thought we would stop by and stay by Scootaloo's side as well to get her parents to see how important her home here is." Jade said with a smile.
"And we can bet that it won't happen soon." Sunray added with a smirk as Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom smiled happily
"Woo-hoo!" They all cheered.
"Now, how do we explain that to 'em?" Apple Bloom wondered.
"Oh, you don't have to explain it." Holiday said.
"They will." Lofty said, showing them the quilt.
"We better do this fast though. I just saw that Snap and Mane are almost done packing so we need to act now." Chase said as they all nodded in agreement with him.
(Scene changes)
The next morning, Scootaloo went home as Snap and Mane were finishing their packing as they turned to their daughter.
"Feeling better, Scootaloo?" Mane asked her daughter with a smile.
"A little." Scootaloo said. "I just want to show you something before we go."
"All right, but let's make it swift." Snap said. "That train won't wait."
The three rushed off to see what Scootaloo had in store for them.
(Scene changes)
In just a few minutes, Scootaloo leads to the town's center.
"Sweet Celestia slippers!" Snap exclaimed.
"What is all this?" Mane asked.
The entire town's center had banners, balloons and more showing the Cutie Mark Crusaders and all of their friends were there. Then Rainbow flew up to them.
"It's Cutie Mark Crusader Appreciation Day!" Rainbow said. "But we couldn't start without all of them here."
Snap and Mane confusingly glanced at each other, and Scootaloo hopped onto Rainbow's back as she flies off.
"CMCs! CMCs! CMCs! CMCs! CMCs! CMCs!" The crowd cheered.
Rainbow lands near Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle as Scootaloo joins them with Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio.
"These 3 ponies share a rare ability to help others find their true propose." Mayor Mare said. "It's a job only they can do, and only together. And the Elite Ninja have done so much for our home to defend Equestria from the Quinkan as well"
"That sounds familiar." Mane said.
"In honor of all they have done and continue to do for the ponies of this town, I would like to present the Cutie Mark Crusaders with a 3-handled Key to the City! And the same for Chase and his family!" Mayor Mare said as she holds a large key with three handles.
The crowd cheers as she hands the eight the key and then the Wonderbolts flew by over them, performing an air show. It even made a cloud shape of the CMC symbol with the Ying Yang symbol as well.
"A full Wonderbolt salute!" Snap said, amazed.
"Oh, I'm not sure you know just how important Scootaloo and her friends are, little brother." Holiday said.
"But you're about to find out." Lofty said.
Then Mayor Mare stepped aside as Skeedaddle appeared.
"The CMCs used their free time to set up a camp to help us blank flanks find our cutie marks." Skeedaddle said. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders see the best in everypony, even when that pony can't see it in themselves."
"Well, I'll be a three-tail bandicoot." Snap said. "I had no idea how important Scoot's club was."
"Oh, it's way more than just a club." Rainbow said. "The CMCs and the Elite Ninja have made a difference for everypony here."
"And not just ponies." Terramar said. "They help everycreature."
He fist bumps with Gabby.
"It's not only our job to protect the world, but to also spread friendship and love to everyone around it." Chase added as well.
"Whether it's encouraging others to discover their special talent..." Holiday said as Tender Taps does a tap dance.
"...or inspiring them to do what's in their heart..." Lofty said as Diamond Tiara waves to the CMC.
"...these 3 offer the town something no other pony can." Holiday said.
Then the train whistle was heard to Shire Lanka as Snap and Mane uneasily turn to each other.
Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle got nervous. Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio just remained calm. Then Mane made a gesture with her hoof.
"No way!" Rainbow exclaimed. "After all that, you're still gonna make her leave?!"
"Rainbow, calm down!" Jade said with a firm look. "Let them tell Scootaloo of their point."
"We just want what's best for Scootaloo." Mane said as she and Snap went up to their daughter. "And until now, we thought we knew what that was."
"Turns out you're just like us, Scoot." Snap said as he sighed. "You have an important job that only you can do. You love it, and it helps all of Equestria."
"Sometimes that means missing out on other things you love, like watching our daughter grow into a pony we're very proud of." Mane said.
"Which is a long way to say... Scoot, if you want to stay, we understand." Snap said.
"Really?!" Scootaloo gasped happily as she tears up and then she lunges towards her parents into a hug. "Thanks, Dad! Thanks, Mom!"
Holiday and Lofty were touched by that.
"Oh, sweetie, I'm just sorry we didn't realize it sooner." Mane apologized.
"Our work is our life's propose." Snap said. "We could never quit. So there's no way we can ask you to do the same."
Scootaloo smiled as Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio approached the pegasus family.
"Now you know how special friendships are around here as well. Scootaloo couldn't bear to leave her friends behind. They mean the world to her." Chase said as Snap and Mane smiled back in understanding.
"Maybe you should've thought of that before you sold the house." Lofty said as Snap and Mane felt uneasy now was selling it.
"Lofty, don't tease my brother." Holiday said. "We already have a solution worked out."
"Since the CMCs make Ponyville such a nice place, we've decided to move here." Lofty said.
"You can live with us, Scootaloo." Holiday said. "If you'd like."
"That would be amazing!" Scootaloo beamed and turns to her parents. "Will you... still come and visit?"
"Of course!" Mane said happily.
"Rabid bugbears couldn't keep us away." Snap said and place his hat on her. "Not even a Tyrannoquin if we run into those in the Wasteland."
They hugged each other.
"And Chase?" Mane said as Chase and his family turned to her. "If we do have a problem with the Quinkan, we could definitely use your help with your family too.
Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio smiled back in reply.
"It would be an honor, Mane." Chase said in reply.
"You get to stay here!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle cheered with Scootaloo. "You get to stay here! You get to stay here!" And they laughed as they hugged her.
"Uh... you are stayin' here, right?" Apple Bloom asked, wanting to be sure.
"Are you kidding?" Scootaloo said. "CMCs forever!"
The 3 of them cheered as Chase, Jade, and Sunray chuckled.
"Then I officially hereby declare today the best CMC party ever!" Chase said as everyone else cheered.
Author's note: Hey guys,
Happy Easter to all of you. Here's chapter 12 with a few twists and surprises for this one. I'll be taking a break on this story for a little bit and work on Rainbow Roadtrip soon enough.
Peace out!